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United States Patent |
5,117,511
|
Smith
|
June 2, 1992
|
Liquid disposal automotive accessory
Abstract
Liquid disposal accessory means and method for motor vehicles. Undesired
liquid or fine particulates, preferably in fluidized form, are disposed
from the driver and/or passenger compartment through a funnel with a drain
tube to the exterior or a collection location. The funnel is withdrawn
manually to a use position from a dashboard or console rest position--to
which it normally retracts. Rinsewater is pumped into the funnel from a
nearby interior source upon demand.
Inventors:
|
Smith; Anthony (2316 S. Union St., St. Petersburg, FL 33712)
|
Appl. No.:
|
465839 |
Filed:
|
January 16, 1990 |
Current U.S. Class: |
4/114.1; 4/262 |
Intern'l Class: |
B60R 015/04; A61J 019/04 |
Field of Search: |
4/114.1,262,266,258,301
296/37.11
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
1046911 | Dec., 1912 | Walker | 4/262.
|
1058564 | Apr., 1913 | Dorsey | 4/262.
|
1231385 | Jun., 1917 | Korten | 4/262.
|
1721832 | Jul., 1929 | Porter | 4/114.
|
1727199 | Sep., 1929 | Freitag | 4/114.
|
1749104 | Mar., 1930 | Kovacs | 4/114.
|
1826137 | Oct., 1931 | Kushner | 4/262.
|
1905881 | Apr., 1933 | Avila | 4/114.
|
2754145 | Jul., 1956 | Mackey | 4/262.
|
4165546 | Aug., 1979 | Philipson et al. | 4/262.
|
4785483 | Nov., 1988 | Wise | 4/114.
|
Primary Examiner: Recla; Henry J.
Assistant Examiner: Fetsuga; Robert M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McClure; Charles A.
Claims
THE CLAIMED INVENTION:
1. In an automotive vehicle with a plurality of interior compartments,
including a driver/passenger compartment, the improvement comprising
manually withdrawable and retractable funnel means located adjacent the
floor of the driver/passenger compartment and having an inlet end at a
given level and a lower outlet end,
rinsing means for supplying liquid to the funnel means inlet end, the
rising means including a container of rinse liquid, means adapted to pump
such rinse liquid, and tubing for conducting pumped rinse liquid to the
funnel means, for draining liquid from the funnel means outlet end, and
spring-actuated retraction means attached to the drain means and adapted to
maintain the funnel means in a retracted position when released from a
withdrawn position.
2. Automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
the inlet end of the funnel means has openings therein and is jacketed with
an outer wall surrounding an inner wall and connected to the rinse liquid
tubing.
3. Automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
the vehicle has a drain opening to the vehicle exterior, and the exit means
comprises a drain tubing having an inlet end interconnected to the outlet
end of the funnel means and having an outlet end extending through the
drain opening, and means for retaining the drain tubing outlet end through
the drain opening.
4. Automotive vehicle driver/passenger compartment accessory, comprising
manually withdrawable and retractable funnel means, normally retracted to a
rest position, having an inlet end adapted to be rinsed with rinse liquid,
and a lower outlet end connected to an exterior drain,
drain means interconnecting the funnel means outlet to the drain, and
including spring-actuated retraction means attached to the drain means and
adapted to maintain the funnel means in a retracted position when released
from a withdrawn position,
rinsing means adapted to supply rinse liquid to the funnel means, including
a rinse liquid supply container, tubing conducting rinse liquid from the
supply container to the funnel means, and pump means adapted to pump such
rinse liquid through such tubing.
5. Automotive vehicle driver/passenger compartment accessory, comprising
manually withdrawable and retractable funnel means, normally retracted to a
rest position, having an inlet end rinsed with rinse liquid, and a lower
outlet end connected by drain tubing to an exterior drain;
spring-actuated funnel retraction means attached to the drain tubing and
adapted to maintain the funnel means in its retracted position when not
positively manually withdrawn therefrom;
rinsing means adapted to supply rinse liquid to the funnel means, including
a rinse liquid supply container, tubing conducting rinse liquid from the
supply container to the funnel means, and motor-driven pump means adapted
to pump such rinse liquid through such tubing; and
actuating switch means for the pump motor actuatable by withdrawal of the
funnel means from its rest position and actuatable also by a separate
manual switch.
6. Automotive vehicle driver/passenger compartment accessory, comprising
manually withdrawable and retractable funnel means, normally retracted to a
rest position, having an inlet end rinsed with rinse liquid, and a lower
outlet end connected to an exterior drain;
wherein an accessory console housing supports the funnel means and covers
rinsing means adapted to supply rinse liquid to the funnel means,
including a rinse liquid supply container, tubing conducting rinse liquid
from the supply container to the funnel means, and pump means adapted to
pump such rinse liquid through such tubing.
7. Automotive vehicle accessory according to claim 6, wherein the pump
means is motor-driven, and the console includes actuating switch means for
the pump motor actuatable by withdrawal of the funnel means from its
retracted position or by separate manual switching.
8. In an automotive vehicle having console means located in a
driver/passenger compartment, between the seats an improved console means
comprising
a housing with upper and lower openings therein, the lower opening
communicating with a drain opening in the vehicle body,
funnel means with an inlet end and an outlet end,
the inlet end normally resting within and protruding from the upper
opening, from which the funnel means is manually withdrawable and to which
the funnel means is retractable,
the outlet end being interconnected by a drain tube to a lower drain
opening, the drain tube extending through the lower opening of the housing
to the exterior of the vehicle; and
retracting means normally retaining the funnel means in its retracted rest
position.
9. Automotive vehicle with console means according to claim 8, wherein the
retraction means includes a helical compression spring with upstream and
downstream ends surrounding part of the drain tube, the upstream end of
the spring being attached to an adjacent fixed part of the vehicle, and
the upstream end of the spring being attached to the drain tube, whereupon
manual withdrawal of the funnel means from its rest position compresses
the spring, and upon manual release of the funnel means the compressed
spring expands and returns the funnel means to its rest position.
10. Automotive vehicle with console means according to claim 9, including
means adapted to pump rinse water to the funnel means from a container
thereof interconnected to the inlet end of the funnel means upon actuation
of connected fluid pump means.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to disposal of undesired liquid or fine particulates
(preferably in fluidized form) from the driver and/or passenger
compartment of an automotive vehicle, and concerns in particular novel
accessory systems for facilitating such disposal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The expression "spitting into the wind" probably means little literally to
most people nowadays, at least until they attempt to dispose of any excess
liquid out an open window of a rapidly moving vehicle--when they are
likely to speculate that there must be a better way. Yet the occasion does
arise when one has to spit somewhere or to dispose of fluidized or
fluidizable grains of sand or tobacco, for example. Then a repository
inside a vehicle has even less appeal, if possible, than a barbershop
spittoon. Deferring an effective solution to the existing problem not only
postpones disposal but may culminate in a less tractable pollution
situation.
When dentists render spitting desirable or necessary, as by inserting
dental materials--or their hands--into people's mouths, they also
conveniently furnish liquid disposal facilities, as in Albigese U.S. Pat.
No. 3,066,318. Although long trips by car lack a comparable stimulus, they
are also confining, and riders may wish to spit, or to pour out the dregs
of a soft drink, or even to rid their shoes of beach sand. Carmakers do
not yet take notice of such exigencies, even though it is safe to say that
every rider has experienced them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to facilitate the disposal of
undesired liquid, in relatively minor amount, from the driver/passenger
compartment of a motor vehicle.
Another object is to enable riders in motor vehicles to dispose of
fluidized particulates readily and neatly to the exterior,
A further object is to provide automotive accessory equipment adapted to
accomplish the foregoing objects.
Yet another object is to provide such accessory equipment with fluidizing
or flushing capability.
A still further object is to accomplish the various foregoing objects in an
economical, effective, and convenient manner.
Other objects of the present invention, together with means and methods for
attaining the various objects, will be apparent from the following
description and accompanying diagrams of preferred embodiments, which are
presented by way of example rather than limitation.
SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an automobile featuring a
dash-mounted accessory apparatus embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a similar view, on a larger scale, showing details of the
embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the dashboard and below, from
the preceding views, taken at III--III on FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4, is a schematic diagram of relationships between electrical and
mechanical, parts of the embodiment of the preceding views.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are sequential side sectional elevations of the outlet
region of FIG. 4, with added biasing means; and
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of an automotive vehicle with
floor-mounted accessory apparatus of this invention.
FIG. 7 is a partial cutaway view, on a larger scale, showing such accessory
apparatus of FIG. 6 in more detail;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of an automotive vehicle with a
modified embodiment of such floor-mounted accessory apparatus;
FIG. 9, is a partial cutaway view, on a larger scale, showing such
accessory apparatus of FIG. 8 in more detail;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of part of such floor-mounted
accessory apparatus on an enlarged scale; and
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the funnel of prior views, on an enlarged
scale.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows automobile 10 in fragmentary side elevation. Front (or "fire")
wall 12 and back wall 18 (both indicated in broken lines) schematically
subdivide the vehicle interior into a forward engine compartment 11, an
intermediate driver/passenger compartment 15, and an aft storage
compartment 19. Subfloor compartment 17 lies underneath the
driver/passenger compartment, between floor 16 and bottom 18 of the
vehicle. The driver's compartment shows steering column 7 and wheel 9 and
the outline of dashboard (or "dash") 13.
Accessory apparatus of the present invention, shown in FIG. 1 as if seen
with x-ray vision, features funnel 20 having two connecting tubes.
Water-supply tubing 23 originates at the lower part of rinsewater bottle
32 supported on firewall 12 in engine compartment 11, continues to and
past water pump P.sub.W, down the firewall and into the subfloor
compartment, terminating at the funnel wall, under dash 13. The
water-supply tubing ends at the funnel wall, at or near which it adjoins
drain tubing 27, which extends from the funnel to and through compartment
floor 16 and vehicle bottom 18--from which such drain tube (partly cut
away) protrudes appreciably.
FIG. 2 shows fragmentarily the right central portion of FIG. 1, on an
enlarged scale, and still omitting the usual seats as superfluous to the
showing of the invention. Funnel 20 and drain tube 27 appear in normal
rest position partly surrounded by partial housing 14 secured underneath
dash 13, also in an extended position (shown in dashed lines).
Water-supply tubing is shown in two parts joined end-to-end by connector
8. As before, the drain tube is shown broken away below the bottom of the
automobile and may be appreciable longer than shown. Inside the housing,
under the funnel in its rest position, is automatic switch S.sub.A for the
water pump.
FIG. 3 shows part of the driver's compartment 15 viewed forward toward the
dash, as from the driver's position, and showing part of windshield 8.
Funnel 20 is visible at the front of small housing 14, which is secured
underneath dash 13 to the right of--and at a lower level than--steering
column 7. Manual switch S.sub.M for the water pump P.sub.W (not shown in
this view) is mounted on the housing alongside the funnel. Although near
the driver's position, the funnel and the switch are situated within ready
reach of a front-seat passenger.
FIG. 4 shows schematically electrical, fluid, and mechanical features of
the components of the preceding views, including motor winding R.sub.P
connected between battery BAT and ground. Automatic and manual Switches
S.sub.A and S.sub.M are connected in parallel between the battery and the
motor winding. Below such electrical schematic part of this view is funnel
20 with drain tubing 27, shown partly cut away. Water flow space 26,
between outer wall 21 and inner wall 23 of the funnel, is fed from tube 23
connected to rinsewater container 32 as an outlet tube and as an inlet
tube to the funnel itself.
FIG. 4 is a composite, in that it also shows alternative (or supplementary)
tube 23' connected to the rinsewater container near its bottom. Whereas
water pump P.sub.W is interposed in tube 23, just described, airpump
P.sub.A is mounted on the rinsewater container in position to draw air in
from the exterior and thereby to compress the air inside the container,
which otherwise is sealed off by cap 31 on filler tube 36. The air
pressure inside forces rinsewater out from the container via tube 23' and
into the funnel via the flow space between its double wall (as from tube
23 with the water pump).
Operation of the apparatus of this invention will be readily understood
from the foregoing drawings. Vehicle (or auxiliary) battery B energizes
pump motor resistance winding R.sub.P when either manual switch S.sub.m or
automatic switch S.sub.A is actuated to complete the electrical circuit in
the motor of whichever pump is being used (possibly both). The manual
switch is actuated directly by hand, of course, and the automatic switch
is actuated indirectly by manual withdrawal of the funnel from its rest
position to an extended use position. Either way rinsewater is pumped to
the funnel. The supplied rinsewater flows into the space between the
funnel walls, exits through the ring of openings near the tope edge of the
inside wall, and flows down through the funnel and out from its neck into,
through, and out the drain tube when the funnel is in use or is being
rinsed preliminary to or following use.
When the driver or a passenger wishes, he or she withdraws the funnel from
its rest position. Withdrawal of the funnel from contact with the
automatic switch triggers the switch to actuate the pump, whereupon water
flows from the openings near the rim down the exposed inside wall of the
funnel. Such water rinses away, down and out the drain tube, surplus
liquid (such as saliva), or even finely divided particulate matter (such
as sand or tobacco grains) fed into the funnel gradually enough so as not
to block or overflow it. When finished using the funnel, the user returns
it to its rest position, thereby switching off the Water flow, unless
continued flow is required to clear the drain tube, in which event the
manual switch can be switched on for a suitable period. In order to avoid
excessive use of water, as by the user forgetting that the manual switch
is on, it can have a built-in timer to switch it off in a minute or so.
It will be understood that withdrawing the funnel from its rest position
extends the drain tube, raising its bottom end, and that returning the
funnel to its rest position lowers the drain tube end. The drain tube is
sufficiently flexible to conform to a desired configuration but is not
overly flexible so as to buckle or bind in the confined openings through
which its lower end portion has to move.
Gravity aids in establishing a rest position of the drain tube, but
supplementary assistance is available as in FIGS. 5A and 5B, which show
fragmentarily on an enlarged scale drain tube 27 and associated components
in the vicinity of the bottom end of the tube. Shading of the collar is
for metal, whereas shading of the material outside the collar is for
plastic granules or like insulation for sound-deadening or related
purposes. Tubular collar 40 extends from the lower surface of vehicle
floor 1 through subfloor compartment 17 and bottom 18, with which its
lower end is about flush. Helical spring 42 surrounds the drain tube with
the lower spring end held by circular clip 41 around the part of it at
about floor level when the funnel at the top end of the drain tube is in
rest position.
FIG. 5A shows the drain tube slightly retracted just above its normal
unextended or rest position, as is apparent from the location of retainer
clip 41 just spaced above subfloor bottom wall 18. Part of the drain tube
and the surrounding spring are cut away here. FIG. 5B shows the drain tube
at its maximum withdrawal or extension and the maximum compression of the
spring, at which point the bottom end of the drain tube is just below the
bottom of the vehicle.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment (110) of the invention in views
analogous to FIGS. 1 and 2; FIGS. 8 and 9 show yet another embodiment
(210) in analogous fashion, and FIG. 10 shows the latter embodiment even
further. In both of these additional embodiments the funnel is relocated
from a position underneath the dash in front of the driver and/or
passenger(s) to between the driver and passenger positions, in a console
located nearer the floor.
In FIGS. 6 through 9, except for funnel 20 (which is unchanged) and its
parts, the same or analogous features are identified by similar reference
numerals, plus 100 for the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7; and plus 200 for
the embodiment of FIGS. 8 through 10. This facilitates understanding of
the respective embodiments and also simplifies the description by
eliminating or reducing otherwise redundant references to similar features
of successive embodiments. The pump reference P.sub.W is retained where a
water pump is specified.
In FIGS. 6 and 7, the rinsewater container (here 132) remains in the engine
compartment along with water pump P.sub.W and much of the attached tubing
(here 123), as in the preceding embodiment, but the funnel is relocated in
console housing 140 secured to floor 116, and is cocked slightly rearward
at a rest position in a housing opening.
Subfloor compartment 117, shown in FIG. 7 as containing sound-deadening
granules or similar material, is traversed by drain tube 127 via suitable
openings therein. The drain tube is shown here as having collar stop 129
about its lower end to preclude it from being raised above the bottom of
the vehicle--and possibly discharging rinsewater into the subfloor
compartment or even into the driver-passenger compartment. Tubing 123
reaches the funnel through the subfloor compartment.
FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 similar to FIG. 7, except for
modification in design and location of corresponding accessory components.
Pressurizable container 232 is located in subfloor compartment 217)
greatly reducing the length of rinsewater tube 223. As shown later, the
previous water pump means is replaced by airpump means, to compress air
against the rinsewater so as to propel it. Console 240 is mounted between
front seats (not shown) as customary in many automobiles today. For
simplicity, no showing is made of features in the main (forward) part of
the console. Funnel 20 is seen in its rest position at the upper rear
corner (oblique) of the console. Also visible in FIG. 9 is sleeve 237
surrounding drain tube 227 from the floor to and through the bottom of the
vehicle, sealing off subfloor compartment where it is traversed by the
drain tube. No collar stop is shown around the bottom end of the drain
tube here although one could be used, of course. Pressurizable container
232 has filler tube 236 at its forward end clear of the front end of the
console so as to be readily available (cap omitted here).
FIG. 10 shows the latter apparatus embodiment fragmentarily in the vicinity
of the oblique upper rear corner of console 240. Funnel 20 seats along the
outside surface of its rim 22 against the surrounding edge 242 of console
opening 243, and switch 245 is mounted (as S.sub.A) just under the
horizontal part of that edge so as to be actuated when the funnel is
raised from (as shown here in broken lines) or returned to (solid lines)
its rest position. Such switch actuates appropriate airpump means here,
but as shown in FIG. 4 also could be used to actuate water pump means of
previous embodiments. Both inlet and drain tubings 223 and 227 may be
joined side-to-side for the part of their length normally within the aft
compartment of the console. It is apparent that the funnel has a double
wall and that small tubing 223 communicates with space 26 therebetween.
FIG. 11 shows the funnel in perspective from above and with combined tubing
of the last embodiment. Arrows suggest the flow of water supplied from
tubing 223 to the funnel interwall space out through such outlets and down
the funnel toward drain tubing 227.
The mentioned apparatus components are commonly available, and no special
materials are needed for the practice of this invention. The tubing may be
obtained in almost any desired size in rubber or any of many synthetic
polymers, such as nylon, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and
polypropylene, for example. The funnel may be of similar composition or
may be made of glass or of a thermosetting phenol-formaldehyde or
urea-formaldehyde resin, for example.
The rinsewater supply tubing is enough longer than the shortest distance
from the rinsewater container to the funnel so as to enable the funnel to
be withdrawn from its rest position for use. Normally it is anticipated
that the funnel will be withdrawn only about a foot or so. Such extra
length in the tubing is suggested by slack or a break in the depicted
tubing length in the various views. The rush of water pressure into the
tubing when the funnel is withdrawn is helpful in precluding kinking, but
surrounding helical wire winding or other usual anti-kinking precautions
may be provided.
The drain tubing is also longer by about an equal amount. As noted, when
the drain tubing protrudes from underneath the vehicle, either a stop is
affixed to it, whether at its exit end or at an intermediate location, to
prevent it from being pulled inside; or, alternatively, a drain collar
surrounds the tubing for much of its lower length so that it may be
withdrawn to a desired distance without anything more untoward occurring
than occasional spilling of some water inside. The drain end can readily
be manually reinserted into the drain collar in the event of such
inadvertent removal. An alternative (not shown) would be to configure an
intermediate length of the drain tubing as a retractable helix, so that it
would stretch and retract while always sloping downward for gravity
through it.
If a mischievous child is likely to play with the funnel, so as to start
the liquid flow when on automatic, a manually actuatable deactivation
switch can be inserted into the circuit, or the existing switch can be
provided with a manual lockout to be set whenever the child is present. If
desired, actuation of the ignition switch may be prerequisite to
energization of the apparatus of this invention, much as is true of
windshield wipers, by similarly connecting the funnel-actuated (or
equivalent) switch.
The apparatus of this invention may be installed by automobile
manufacturers as original equipment, or (perhaps more likely) can be
supplied in kit form to the after-market for installation by dealers or
customizers or other members of the public. Retrofitting installation
requires only the drilling of a few holes and securing of the several
components in the desired locations. Kits may include a console, or a
funnel mount as an add-on to a pre-installed console. In the event that
alternative disposition of liquid from the funnel is desired, the liquid
is readily vaporized by redirecting the drain tubing into the vicinity of
a suitably convenient and effective hot place, such as the
tailpipe--preferably downstream from the muffler and all environmental
equipment--as with additional special kits.
It will be understood that if exterior disposal of such liquids is
prohibited, or is otherwise undesired, an interim colIection site can be
provided in the interior, within the subfloor compartment, or attached to
the outside below the subfloor compartment. Such add-on need not alter the
structure or operation of the embodiments already illustrated and
described because only supplementary thereto.
Preferred embodiments and variants have been suggested for this invention.
Other modifications may be made, as by adding, combining, deleting, or
subdividing compositions, parts, or steps, while retaining all or some of
the advantages and benefits of the present invention--which itself is
defined in the following claims.
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